The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason

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The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason

by Sam Harris
989 members / 0 friends / 15 groups / 45 reviews / 72 tags
Sam Harris cranks out blunt, hard-hitting chapters to make his case for why faith itself is the most dangerous element of modern life. And if the devil's in the details, then you'll find Satan waiting at the back of the book in the very substantial notes section where Harris saves his more esoteric discussions to avoid sidetracking the urgency of his message.
Interestingly, Harris is not just focused on debunking religious faith, though he makes his compelling arguments with verve and intellectual clarity. The End of Faith is also a bit of a philosophical Swiss Army knife. Once he has presented his arguments on why, in an age of Weapons of Mass Destruction, belief is now a hazard of great proportions, he focuses on proposing alternate approaches to the mysteries of life. Harris recognizes the truth of the human condition, that we fear death, and we often crave "something more" we cannot easily define, and which is not met by accumulating more material possessions. But by... see complete book description

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  • Zeheva

    zeheva says

    This was a good read for me, especially the realism vs. pragmatism section, and I think it's one that everyone should read. Sadly conflicts like the ones talked about in this book are becoming more of a part of our reality, so it needs to become part of our discourse as well.

    posted Tuesday, May 27 2008

  • Emeraldeyes

    emeraldeyes says

    I was really interested to hear what he had to say, but he lost me completely with the vivid descriptions of torture and animal abuse in the name of science. Did I really need to know that, Mr. Harris?

    posted Tuesday, March 11 2008

  • Sonja P

    sonja p says

    We read this for book club, and I don't remember anyone really loving it. Perhaps I lacked the correct perspective, but I didn't find it especially engaging. I only finished the book because we would be discussing it.

    posted Tuesday, March 11 2008

    (This is a response to a previous comment)

    (sonja p previously rated this book 5 stars)

  • yunir

    yunir says

    Hi, excellent review of the book.
    Thumbs up to this, though I don't share the 5-stars rating. :p

    posted Wednesday, November 14 2007

    (This is a response to a previous comment)

    (yunir previously rated this book 5 stars, read review)

  • lavanya prasad

    lavanya prasad says

    yup...interesting indeed..

    posted Wednesday, October 31 2007

    (This is a response to a previous comment)

    (lavanya prasad previously rated this book 3 stars)

  • Al B

    al b says

    I agree about the Muslim part but I attribute that to the influence of the way we sell books in this country, regrettable and a distraction but you got to be kidding about the insufferable Hitchens who will do anything to draw a crowd.

    posted Friday, October 26 2007

    (This is a response to a previous comment)

    (read al b’ review)

  • daye

    daye says

    You very succinctly echo my own thoughts.

    posted Wednesday, October 24 2007

    (This is a response to a previous comment)

    (daye previously rated this book 5 stars)

  • daye

    daye says

    so chewy. Normally I can read when one dog is whining, the kids are frolicking with the barking dog and the DH is watching my Red Wings on TV--but THIS book--not so much.
    Must be quiet. Must think after every paragraph. Must read slowly and closely and wait between pages.

    posted Wednesday, October 24 2007

  • ashokpandit

    ashokpandit says

    Ask a question, kick off a discussion, or just talk about this book...excellent book,makes you think.

    posted Thursday, September 13 2007

  • Harold

    harold says

    I haven't finished reading the book, but it raises some issues that need to be discussed. Personally, I am against all dogma, whether it is religious, political or anything else. I believe that we all have a responsibility to each other to be critical thinkers.

    The other day I came across an article in the paper by Gwyn Dyer where he referred to the Journal of Religion and Society and an article entitled "Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies: A First Look" by Gregory Paul.

    Paul found that, "In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, (venereal disease), teen pregnancy and abortion," while "none of the strongly secularized, pro-evolution democracies is experiencing high levels of measurable dysfunction."

    I give more credence to data than dogma.

    posted Wednesday, March 28 2007

    (read harold’ review)

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